Latest News and Comment from Education

Saturday, March 30, 2019

Mitchell Robinson: Betsy DeVos Wants More "Innovation" in Public Schools: How About Public School Food Trucks? | Eclectablog

Betsy DeVos Wants More "Innovation" in Public Schools: How About Public School Food Trucks? | Eclectablog

Betsy DeVos Wants More “Innovation” in Public Schools: How About Public School Food Trucks?


Photo credit: credit Michael Vadon, https://www.flickr.com/photos/80038275@N00/33073563866

One of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ favorite “talking points” is that public schools are not “innovative,” and that the solution to our problems in education is to invest public tax dollars in creating more charter schools and voucher programs for private and religious schools:
“There’s still not enough innovation,” she said Tuesday, continuing her familiar focus on school choice and schools or networks working outside the traditional public system. “The reality is there are a number of challenges and opportunities facing American students, and Washington, DC, does not have all the answers.”
I’d suggest that it is Ms. DeVos who “does not have all the answers,” and in fact isn’t really sure of what the questions are–but more on that in a minute.
In the meantime, I thought it would be helpful to share a story about an example of true innovation happening in Ohio, where the public schools are initiating a new program involving food trucks:
Last week saw Middletown Schools unveil the district’s first food truck, part of a $225,000 program to feed the district’s needy students by going to them on non-school days. The giant, brightly colored truck will travel to some of Middletown’s low-income communities this summer to deliver free lunches to children and teens who during the school year depend on such meals from their school cafeterias.
A couple of points worth mentioning here…
1. It’s important to note that these are traditional public schools in Ohio providing these food trucks…not charter schools, or private schools, or even religious schools. Because traditional CONTINUE READING: Betsy DeVos Wants More "Innovation" in Public Schools: How About Public School Food Trucks? | Eclectablog